Film processor



Dec. 3, 1968 M. FRIEDEL 3,413,904

FILM PROCESSOR Filed Sept. 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ArraeMey 9 INVENTOR.

M. FRIEDEL FILM PROCESSOR Dec. 3, 1968 Filed Sept. 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m" y 2 Z Z M 4 I United States Patent 3,413,904 FILM PROCESSOR Murray Friedel, North Miami Beach, Fla., assignor to Visual Graphics Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 485,502 4 Claims. (Cl. 95-94) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE veloped sheet material out of the tank and into subsequent developing and drying chambers.

. This invention relates to apparatus for processing photographic film, paper, and the like.

Where it is desired to process exposed photographic film or paper on a continuous basis, it is customary to employ deep tanks and a large number of rotating rollers to guide the sensitized material through the chemicals within the tanks. In addition to the tendency of the rollers to scratch the softened surface of the sensitized material, it is not possible with prior art devices to inspect the progress of the development once the paper or film enters the tanks.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic processor for photographic film or paper which will greatly reduce the possibility of scratching of the sensitive surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic photographic film processor in which the progress of film development can be observed and controlled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a low cost, highly simplified automatic film processor.

Still another object of the present invention is to dry the developed film or paper in a blast of air while in a substantially unsupported state.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the time required for the processing of exposed sensitized film or paper.

A feature of the present invention is its use of belts moving within the solution within a developing tray to control the movement of the film being processed therein.

Another feature of the present invention is the use of a translucent or transparent developing tray to facilitate operation control.

A further feature of the present invention is the use of a floating guide member in the developing tray which also serves to agitate the solution therein.

Still another feature of the present invention is the use of a movable dam within the developing tray to control the time interval of development.

A feature of the present invention is its continuous transport of film or paper from one tank to another. Another feature of the present invention is its novel drying section for the developed sensitized material.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, there is illustrated two forms of embodiment of the inven tion, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat isometric view of the film advancing mechanism of a developing tray according to the present invention with certain parts omitted for the sake of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in longitudinal section on a reduced scale of a film development tank employing the advancing mechanism of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in longitudinal section on a reduced scale of additional film processing tanks and a film drying section according to the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a somewhat isometric view, partially broken away of the film drying section shown in FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a somewhat isometric view, partially broken away, of another form of film processor in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a somewhat isometric view of one-half of the film processing tank shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGURES l, 2 and 3, 10 indicates a film development apparatus comprising a tank 11, to receive and hold developing fluid 12.

A film or sensitized paper handling and transporting apparatus, best shown in FIGURE 1, is also carried within the tank 11. The handling and transporting apparatus 13, includes a first feed roller 14, a second feed roller 15, and a motor 16, in driving engagement with the feed roller 14.

A second motor 17 in the handling and transporting apparatus 13, is coupled to the shaft 18, of a squeegee 19. The squeegee roller 19 is in frictional contact with a transport roller 20, and serves to drive it by reason of said contact. The squeegee roller 19 is made of some elastomeric material such as neoprene, rubber, or the like, which also improves its ability to drive the transport roller 20.

The transport roller 20 is provided with a series of spaced annular grooves 21, along its entire length. A second transport roller 22 is carried within the tank 11, and is spaced from the first transport roller 20 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The second transport roller 22 is also provided with a series of spaced annular grooves along its length. A plurality of transport belts 24 in the form of continuous resilient members interconnect the transport rollers 20, 22, and are carried within each of the roller grooves 21, 23, in the manner shown in FIGURE 1. The transport belts 24 transmit the rotary motion of the first transport roller 20 to the second transport roller 22. The transport belts 24 also set up slight eddy currents within the fluid 12 of the tank 11, as they are driven by the rollers 20.

As shown in FIGURE 2, photographic film or paper (not shown) is inserted into the device along a feed guide 25 and follows a path indicated by the dashed lines 26. The paper moves into the bite of the feed rollers 14, 15, and is directed downwardly into the developing fluid 12 within the tank 11. As the paper moves into the tank (emulsion side up) it comes into contact with the transport belts 24 which are being turned in the direction of the arrow 27. The paper is thus carried toward the squeegee roller 19. However, before the paper can reach the roller 19 it is intercepted by a stop or dam 28, which is carried within the tank 11, in front of the squeegee roller 19. The stop or darn 28, as best shown in FIGURE 3, consists of a plate-like member 29, having downwardly 3 depending teeth 30. The teeth 30 project into the path of the paper within the tank and prevent it from moving forward as long as the dam is in place.

The photographic paper or film is further led into the tank 11 by means of a guide plate 31. The guide plate 31, best shown in FIGURE 2, is preferably made of some transparent material such as Lucite, glass, or the like, and is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to and above the transport belts 24. The guide plate 31 may be disposed upon the surface of the developing fluid 12, or be slightly submerged. An arm 32 is secured to the guide plate 31, and extends upwardly therefrom, out of the tank 11. A cam 33, in operative engagement with the top of the arm 32, serves to raise and lower the guide plate 31 in response to a source of rotary power (not shown). In this manner, a slight agitation can be imparted to the fluid 12 within the tank. The agitation of the fluid can be controlled to meet the developing requirements of the processor.

The bottom of the tank 11 is made of a transparent material such as transparent acrylic, glass or the like. The bottom 34 of the tank 11 is also made with a red filtering material therein so that a light source indicated at 35, can illuminate the interior of the tank 11 with a non-actinic illumination. As a result of this illumination, the operator can observe the progress of the development within the tank 11 as it is being carried on.

When the film or paper has been sufficiently developed, the dam 28 is lifted either manually by means of the small crank 36, or automatically by means of the earns 37, and some suitable power source (not shown). As the dam is raised, the transport belts 24 urge the film or paper into the bite between the squeegee roller 19, and the transport roller 20. The film is thus driven against the guide 38 which directs it upwardly between the squeegee roller 19 and a second squeegee roller 39.

Since the operator can watch the progress of the de- 'velopment, he can shorten or lengthen the period during which the paper is within the tank as required. Once the optimum time and conditions have been established, the operator can put the processor on automatic operation.

As the film leaves the squeegee roller 19 it is directed against an upper guide member 40. The guide member 40 has a curved surface 41 which directs the film into the bite between two rollers 42, 43, which are located exterior of the tank 11. The rollers 42, 43, feed the film along the dooted path 44 shown in FIGURE 4, into a processing tank 45. It is to be understood that the rollers 42, 43, are driven by a suitable power source (not shown) which may also be used to drive the rollers in the processing tank 45.

The processing tank 45 may contain a fixative solution 46, for the further processing of the fil-m or paper as it passes therethrough. The film enters the processing tank 45 through a guide slot 47, and is led into the bite between a drive roller 48 and an idler roller 49. The idler roller is rotatably supported upon small Teflon rollers 50, to minimize friction. The idler roller is further carried within a small recess 51 in the wall of the tank 45 as shown in FIGURE 4. A second and third drive roller 52, 53, are carried within the tank 45 and are in frictional contact with a plurality of drive belts 54, 55, 56. The drive 'belts 54, 55 and 56 are carried in annular grooves (not shown) in the spaced transport rollers 57, 58, 59, 60, within the processing tank 45. As shown in FIGURE 4, the paper or film is led down into the space between the drive rollers 52, 53, and the drive belts 54, 55, 56, which drive the paper through the tank and into the bite between idler roller 61 .and drive roller 48.

The paper or film is then led out of the processing tank 45 along guide 62 and into a second identical processing tank 63. The second processing tank may contain a stop solution to complete the processing of the photographic film or paper.

The paper or film leaves the processing tank 63 by 4 means of guide 64 and is led into a drying apparatus indicated at 65.

The drying apparatus 65 (best shown in FIGURE 5) is built within a hollow box-like plenum chamber 66. A slot 67 is provided in the top of the chamber 66 through which the paper or film is fed. The bottom 68 of the plenum 66 is formed with a flap member 69, which is swyingably mounted over a bottom slot 70. The flap 69 holds the paper within the drying apparatus until the drying process is completed. Therefater, the flap 69 can be swung away from the flap 70 to permit the paper to slide out of the drying apparatus 65. One side of the drying apparatus 65 is opened as indicated at 71, to receive air heated by the resistance element 72, coming from a blower (not shown) and indicated by the arrows 73. The air enters the plenum 66 on both sides of a flattened box-like holder 74. The holder 74 is in register with the slots 67, 70, so that the paper can slide into and out of the holder 74 through the said slots. The side walls of the holder 74 are perforated as indicated at 75 to permit the warm air to reach the film or paper therein. Since theair comes through the holder 74 from both sides thereof, the paper is substantially held in space free of iontact with the walls of the holder 74. In this manner, the paper quickly dries without danger of scratching or damaging the softened emulsion face thereof.

At the end of the necessary time for drying the paper, the flap 69 is swung away and the paper emerges in a finished state from the apparatus.

Referring to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, there is shown another processing tank 76, made in accordance with the present invention. The tank 76, is built within two tank halves 77, best shown in FIGURE 8. The tank halves 77 are preferably molded of some suitable plastic and are made with left and right hand sections which can be bolted together or cemented together to form a fluid tight enclosure. Each of the tank halves consist of a side wall 78, end walls 79, 80, and a bottom 81.,The tops of the tan-k are open and adapted to be overlain by cover members '82, 83, for the purpose of guiding the film or paper into and out of the processing tank. It will be apparent from an examination of FIGURES 6 and 7, that a series of tanks may be assembled in side-by-side relationship to handle a succession of processing steps.

Each of the tank halves 77 is provided with a curve wall portion :84, into which there is molded a plurality of horizontal ribs 85. The upper end of the wall portion 84 serves to support Teflon rollers 86, upon which spaced idler rollers 87 rotate. The idler rollers 87 are in the frictional contact with a drive roller 88, and the said rollers 87, 88, serve to substantially close the top of the processing tank 76.

A series of baffle plates 89 are carried within the processing tanks transversely thereof, and serve to guide the paper in its passage through the fluid within the tanks. A second drive roller 90 is disposed at the bottom of the processing tank 76, and is in frictional contact with an idler roller 91. The nip of the idler roller 91 and the second drive roller 90 lies in the path of the paper as it passes through the processing tank 7 6. Power for the drive rollers 88, 90, can be supplied from any suitable source (not shown) in the manner well known in the art.

As the paper enters the processing tank 76, it is led by the guide member 82 into the nip of the rollers 86, 88. The drive roller 88 is made of a relatively soft elastomer as compared with the material forming the idler roller. As the result of this difference in hardness, the idler roller presses into the surface of the drive roller 88 and the paper or film is slightly bent in the direction of the wall 84 as it emerges into the interior of the processing tank 76. This operation is further enhanced by making the diameter of the drive roller 88 somewhat larger than that of the idler roller 87. I

The chamber walls 84 direct the paper down into the nip of the lower rollers 90, 91. Here again, a hardness differential is employed between the lower drive roller 90 and the lower idler roller 91 whereby the paper is bent and rises upwardly along the walls 84 and into the nip of the drive roller 88 and idler roller 87. The paper then leaves the processing tank under the direction of the guide 83 and passes to the next processing step.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided apparatus for handling and processing photographic paper or film w'hich assure the minimum of injury to the sensitive surface and provides substantially automatic processing and drying of the photographic material.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A device for processing exposed photographic sheet material comprising a first developing tank to receive a quantity of developing fluid, said tank having spaced side walls, spaced end walls and a fluid tight bottom, horizontally spaced parallel transport roller members in the tank below the fluid level, a series of spaced belts horizontally interconnecting the transport rollers, a source of rotary power for at least one of said transport rollers, guide means within the tank to lead the sheet material into the fluid and into contact with the belts, a dam swingably carried within the tank overlying the transport belts and in the path of the sheet material to limit the travel of the sheet material, means to remove the dam from the path of the sheet material to release the sheet material, guide means to lead the released sheet material out of the first tank, a second developing tan=k adjacent the first tank to receive developing fluid, means to guide the sheet material into the second tank, drive means within the second tank to pass the sheet material therethr-o ugh, a dryer for the sheet material adjacent the second tank, means to lead the sheet material from the second tank into the drier and means to remove the dried sheet material from ti drier.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the first tan guide means includes a plate overlying the transport belt and in contact with the fluid and means to reciprocat the plate to agitate the fluid.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which the plat is made of a transparent material, and the bottom of th first tank is made of a transparent actinic light filterin material whereby light entering the first tank will i] luminate the sheet material without alfecting the develop ment thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the guid means is a plate made of a transparent material, am the bottom of the first tank is made of a transparent actinit light filtering material whereby light entering the firs tank will illuminate the sheet material without affecting the development thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,440 11/1926 Comstook -94 1,656,522 1/1928 Josepho 95-94 1,900,825 3/1933 Liberrnan 9594 2,927,503 3/1960 Zollinger 9594 XR 2,977,868 4/1961 Dutch 95-94 3,067,667 12/1962 Krehbiel 95-89 XR 3,192,845 7/1965 Schmidt 95-89 FOREIGN PATENTS 693,644 7/1953 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. FRED L.- BvRAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

